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United States Patent |
5,539,961
|
DeFrance
|
July 30, 1996
|
Spring-loaded wedge dead end
Abstract
A spring-loaded wedge dead end for use in electrical transmission lines has
upper and lower jaws which close upon one another in a wedging action to
grasp the dead end of such a line. The wedge dead end includes a U-shaped
clevis for use in attaching it to a pole or the like, and upper and lower
jaw guides which form a U-shaped channel in which the upper and lower jaws
are disposed. The jaws are spring-biased toward a closed position, are
coupled so as to move in a corresponding manner, and may be locked in a
fully open position, from which an installer may release it when an
electrical transmission line is correctly placed between the open jaws to
simplify the dead-ending of the line.
Inventors:
|
DeFrance; Robert V. (Poughkeepsie, NY)
|
Assignee:
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Fargo Mfg. Company Inc. (Poughkeepsie, NY)
|
Appl. No.:
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324904 |
Filed:
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October 18, 1994 |
Current U.S. Class: |
24/136R; 403/300; 403/314 |
Intern'l Class: |
F16G 011/00 |
Field of Search: |
24/115 M,136 R
403/300,309,312,313,314
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
482975 | Sep., 1892 | Cope | 24/136.
|
1238167 | Aug., 1917 | McIntyre | 24/136.
|
1814933 | Jul., 1931 | Keen | 403/217.
|
2127115 | Aug., 1938 | Hamilton | 24/136.
|
2220203 | Nov., 1940 | Branin | 24/136.
|
3205300 | Sep., 1965 | Becker | 403/314.
|
3274654 | Sep., 1966 | Becker | 403/287.
|
3673312 | Jun., 1972 | Vockvoth | 24/136.
|
3758922 | Sep., 1973 | Field | 24/136.
|
4183686 | Jan., 1980 | De France | 403/11.
|
4407471 | Oct., 1983 | Wilmsmann et al. | 24/136.
|
4572565 | Feb., 1986 | Epstein | 24/136.
|
4872626 | Oct., 1989 | Li enart | 248/63.
|
5015023 | May., 1991 | Hall | 24/136.
|
Foreign Patent Documents |
13230 | Jul., 1916 | GB | 24/115.
|
Primary Examiner: Johnson; Blair
Assistant Examiner: Chop; Andrea
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Kane, Dalsimer, Sullivan, Kurucz, Levy, Eisele and Richard, LLP
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A spring-loaded wedge dead end comprising:
a body portion, said body portion having a first end and a second end and a
single leg therebetween, said body portion further having fastening means
at said first end for fastening said dead end to a supporting structure,
and upper and lower jaw guides supported in spaced angular relationship at
said second end, said upper and lower jaw guides providing a U-shaped
channel and converging toward each other so that said U-shaped channel is
gradually narrowed or decreased in transverse dimension as it extends in a
direction from said first end toward said second end;
a floater, said floater being a substantially planar, substantially
wedge-shaped member on the bottom of the interior of said U-shaped channel
and having a pair of opposed cut-outs defining a pair of opposed tabs;
upper and lower jaws slidably supported in said U-shaped channel over said
floater so as to come into a wedging engagement about a conductor disposed
therebetween upon movement of said upper and lower jaws toward said second
end, said upper and lower jaws each having backsides facing said floater
and each of said backsides having a pair of raised guides with a space
therebetween, said tabs on said floater fitting into said spaces, said
floater thereby coupling said upper and lower jaws together; and
means for biasing said floater toward said second end.
2. A spring-loaded wedge dead end as claimed in claim 1 wherein said
fastening means at said first end is a U-shaped clevis having apertures,
so that a bolt may be passed through said apertures to secure said dead
end to a fastening element, said U-shaped clevis being separated from and
connected to said upper and lower jaw guides by said single leg.
3. A spring-loaded wedge dead end as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of
said raised guides on the backside of one of said upper and lower jaws has
a notch, one of said tabs on said floater being lodgeable in said notch
when said upper and lower jaws are in an open position to lock said upper
and lower jaws in open said position.
4. A spring-loaded wedge dead end as claimed in claim 1 wherein said bottom
of said U-shaped channel has a bottom channel running from said second end
of said body portion to an end wall, and wherein said floater has a
downward tab projecting into said bottom channel, and further comprising a
spring disposed in said bottom channel between said end wall and said
downward tab on said floater, and biasing said floater and thereby said
upper and lower jaws toward said second end and into a closed position.
5. A spring-loaded wedge dead end comprising:
a body portion, said body portion having a first end and a second end and a
single leg therebetween, said body portion further having fastening means
at said first end for fastening said dead end to a supporting structure,
and upper and lower jaw guides supported in spaced angular relationship at
said second end, said upper and lower jaw guides providing a U-shaped
channel and converging toward each other so that said U-shaped channel is
gradually narrowed or decreased in transverse dimension as it extends in a
direction from said first end toward said second end;
upper and lower jaws slidably supported in said U-shaped channel so as to
come into a wedging engagement about a conductor disposed therebetween
upon movement of said upper and lower jaws toward said second end;
means for biasing said upper and lower jaws toward said second end; and
means for coupling said upper and lower jaws so that movement of one of
said upper and lower jaws will result in a corresponding movement of the
other of said jaws, said means for coupling comprising a floater on the
bottom of said U-shaped channel and beneath said upper and lower jaws,
said upper and lower jaws thereby disposed on top of said floater in said
U-shaped channel, said floater being substantially wedge-shaped and having
a pair of opposed cut-outs and a pair of opposed tabs, and said upper and
lower jaws each having backsides, each of said backsides having a pair of
raised guides with a space therebetween, said spaces accommodating said
tabs on said floater, said floater thereby coupling said upper and lower
jaws together so that movement of one of said upper and lower jaws will
cause corresponding movement of the other of said jaws through the medium
of the floater, one of said raised guides on the backside of one of said
upper and lower jaws having a notch, one of said tabs on said floater
being lodgeable in said notch when said upper and lower jaws are in an
open position to lock said upper and lower jaws in said open position.
6. A spring-loaded wedge dead end comprising:
a body portion, said body portion having a first end and a second end and a
single leg therebetween, said body portion further having fastening means
at said first end for fastening said dead end to a supporting structure,
and upper and lower jaw guides supported in spaced angular relationship at
said second end, said upper and lower jaw guides providing a U-shaped
channel and converging toward each other so that said U-shaped channel is
gradually narrowed or decreased in transverse dimension as it extends in a
direction from said first end toward said second end;
upper and lower jaws slidably supported in said U-shaped channel so as to
come into a wedging engagement about a conductor disposed therebetween
upon movement of said upper and lower jaws toward said second end; and
means for coupling said upper and lower jaws so that movement of one of
said upper and lower laws will result in a corresponding movement of the
other of said jaws, said means for coupling comprising a floater on the
bottom of said U-shaped channel and beneath said upper and lower laws,
said upper and lower jaws thereby disposed on top of said floater in said
U-shaped channel, said floater being substantially wedge-shaped and having
a pair of opposed cut-outs and a pair of opposed tabs, and said upper and
lower jaws each having backsides, each of said backsides having a pair of
raised guides with a space therebetween, said spaces accommodating said
tabs on said floater, said floater thereby coupling said upper and lower
jaws together so that movement of one of said upper and lower jaws will
cause corresponding movement of the other of said jaws through the medium
of the floater, wherein said bottom of said U-shaped channel has a bottom
channel running from said second end of said body portion to an end wall,
and wherein said floater has a downward tab projecting into said bottom
channel, and further comprising a spring disposed in said bottom channel
between said end wall and said downward tab on said floater, and biasing
said floater and thereby said upper and lower jaws toward said second end
and into a closed position.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is a dead end connector for gripping and securing
wires, such as electrical conductors on power lines, and for maintaining
them in tension.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the field of electrical power generation and transmission, electrical
transmission lines must be periodically anchored to a supporting
structure, such as a tower, and strung between supporting structures in a
series leading from an electric power generator to a point of use.
Couplings, commonly known as "dead ends", are frequently used to attach
the electrical transmission line to the supporting structure, or, more
precisely, to an insulated mount attached to the supporting structure.
In general, dead ends, such as those discussed and disclosed in U.S. Pat.
No. 3,274,654, are used for this purpose. That patent shows a hinged dead
end connector, which holds an electrical transmission line between an
elongated body and a pressure pad, which closes onto the elongated body.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,183,686 shows another dead end connector for an electrical
transmission line. The connector includes an elongated body and a
cable-receiving longitudinal channel formed in the body. A pressure pad is
provided with an elongated base portion which is adapted to be aligned
with the longitudinal channel of the body. A cross piece is on the side of
the base portion opposite to the side adjacent the channel of the body
when aligned therewith, and the cross piece extends across and outwardly
from both sides of the aligned body and pad at an oblique angle with
respect thereto. Coupling structure is provided for retaining the pressure
pad in overlying aligned position with respect to the channel to hold a
portion of the electrical transmission line therein with the cross piece
enabling the provision of a holding pressure along at least a substantial
portion of the engagement surface of the pressure pad with the electrical
transmission line.
These and other prior-art dead end connectors hold the dead end of an
electrical transmission line through a clamping action generated when two
members of the connectors are bolted to one another. They suffer from the
disadvantage that the magnitude of the clamping action depends on the
degree to which the two members are compressed together, which in turn
depends upon the amount the installer tightens the bolts holding them
together. Naturally, variations will be observed from installer to
installer. Clearly, a dead end connector, having a clamping action
independent of installer variation, and more readily and quickly installed
than those requiring bolts to generate the clamping action, would be a
boon to the field of electrical power generation and transmission.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
With the preceding background in mind, it is the purpose of the present
invention to provide a dead end for electrical transmission lines wherein
the connection is accomplished with a simple and effective structure that
can be quickly and easily coupled to the cable.
Accordingly, the present invention is a spring-loaded wedge dead end which
comprises a body portion having a first end and a second end separated by
a single leg. At the first end are fastening means for fastening the dead
end to a pole or the like. At the second end, upper and lower jaw guides
are supported in spaced angular relationship to one another.
The upper and lower jaw guides provide a U-shaped channel and converge
toward each other, so that the U-shaped channel is gradually narrowed or
decreased in transverse dimension as it extends in a direction from the
first end toward the second end.
Upper and lower jaws are slidably supported in the U-shaped channel so as
to come into a wedging engagement about their movement toward the second
end. The upper and lower jaws are further spring-biased toward the second
end and into a closed position. The upper and lower jaws may further be
locked into an open position, and released when an electrical transmission
line is disposed therebetween, to simplify the dead-ending of the line.
The present spring-loaded wedge dead end will now be described in more
complete detail with frequent reference being made to the several drawing
figures, which may be identified as follows.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an exploded, and partially sectional, perspective view of the
spring-loaded wedge dead end connector of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a top, and partially, sectional, view of the connector;
FIG. 3 is a view of the backside of the upper and lower jaws, showing their
relationship to the floater;
FIG. 4 is another view of the backside of the upper and lower jaws, showing
the jaws locked into an open position; and
FIG. 5 is a cross-section taken through the upper jaw of the connector.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The present spring-loaded wedge dead end 10 has a body portion 12 of
unitary construction cast of a durable metal material, such as aluminum.
The body portion 12 includes a wedge section 14 which, in turn, includes
upper and lower jaw guide walls 16 and 18, respectively, and gripping ring
20, the latter of which has been cut away in FIG. 1. The body portion 12
further comprises a U-shaped clevis 22 and a single leg 24 which
integrally connects the clevis 22 to the wedge section 14. As seen in
FIGS. 1 and 2, the gripping ring 20 is extended to provide a strengthening
rib 26 for the leg 24.
The U-shaped clevis 22 is provided with apertures 28, through which a
clevis pin or bolt 30 may be passed. The U-shaped clevis 22 is adapted to
receive a pivoted bracket (not shown) or other fastening element, of a
size to fit between the arms of the U-shaped clevis 22 and to be attached
to the main body portion 12 by means of the clevis pin or bolt 30. Cotter
pin 32 fits through an aperture (not shown) on bolt 30 in order to secure
the bolt 30 in place.
As may be seen in FIG. 1, the upper and lower jaw guide walls 16,18 are
supported in spaced relationship by wall 34, which is an extension of leg
24, to provide a U-shaped channel 36 which widens uniformly and gradually
toward the U-shaped clevis 22.
The U-shaped channel 36 captures the upper and lower jaws, 38 and 40
respectively, slidably therein in a wedge fit. In order to achieve this,
wall 34, which functions as the base of the U-shaped channel 36, is
gradually widened or increased in transverse dimension as it extends from
the end of the body portion 12 of the dead end 10 toward the center, or
from left to right in FIG. 1. Transverse ribs 42 are provided for
strengthening.
Wall 34 is provided with guide channels 34',34", which diverge from one
another as wall 34 is widened. Walls 16' and 18' project from upper jaw
guide wall 16 and lower jaw guide wall 18, respectively, opposite the
channels 34',34", respectively. Projecting walls 16' and 18' are generally
parallel to wall 34 and maintain upper jaw 38 and lower jaw 40 within
their respective jaw guides as the upper jaw 38 and lower jaw 40 are moved
from right to left and back. The upper jaw 38 and lower jaw 40 are formed
with projecting ribs 38' and 40', respectively, for which the guide
channels 34',34" provide tracks during such movement. Movement of the
upper jaw 38 and lower jaw 40 to the left in FIG. 1 brings them
continually closer together until they abut one another, thereby providing
a stop means arresting further movement to the left. In fact, as will be
discussed below, movement of the upper and lower jaws 38,40 is biased
toward such a closed position.
The upper jaw 38 and lower jaw 40 have arcuate faces 38" and 40",
respectively, formed with projecting transverse teeth 44, for receipt of
an electrical transmission line. These may be seen more clearly in the
cross section of upper jaw 38 included herein as FIG. 5. Transverse teeth
44 bite into an electrical transmission line to increase the grip of the
present dead end connector thereon.
In order to ensure that the movement and positioning of the upper jaw 38
and the lower jaw 40 are at all times coordinated, guide means are
provided. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the backsides (facing the viewer of
the figures) of the upper jaw 38 and lower jaw 40 have raised guides 46.
The upper jaw 38 has a raised guide 48 with a notch 50, the purpose of
which will be described below. A floater 52 having cut-outs 54 defining
tabs 56,56' which fit between raised guides 46,48 resides beneath the
upper and lower jaws 38,40, separating them from wall 34. The cooperation
of tabs 56,56' on floater 52 and raised guides 46,48 on the backsides of
the upper and lower jaws 38,40 ensures that the longitudinal motion of the
jaws will be coordinated.
In other words, when either the upper jaw 38 or lower jaw 40 is moved along
the length of guide channels 34',34" the contact of raised guides 46 48 on
the one of the upper and lower jaws 38,40 being moved against one of the
tabs 56,56' on floater 52 will move the floater 52, which, in turn, will
move the other of the upper and lower jaws 38,40 by the engagement of the
other of the tabs 56,56' against the raised guides 46,48 on the backside
thereof. Further, because of the configuration of wall 34 and the angular
relationship between the faces of the upper jaw guide 16,16',34' and lower
jaw guide 18,18',34", movement of jaws 38,40 lengthwise will result in
transverse, toward or away, movement in wedging action. The
interengagement of tabs 56,56' with raised guides 46,48 ensures that the
upper jaw 38 and the lower jaw 40 will move in concert with one another.
The length of the tabs 56,56' is determined by the extent the jaws 38,40
can move longitudinally, so that they will not disconnect from the floater
52. Longer tabs 56,56' are required for a longer wedge section 14.
Turning back, now, to FIGS. 1 and 2, floater 52 also has a concave section
58 facing downwardly toward wall 34, and a downward oriented tab 60. To
accommodate the latter, wall 34 is provided with a channel 62. Finally, a
spring 64 is disposed in channel 62, where it is compressed between tab 60
of floater 52 and the end wall 66 of channel 62. Concave section 58 of
floater 52 lies over the channel 62 and spring 64, and lends stability to
the structure. It may now be readily visualized that spring 64 biases the
upper and lower jaws 38,40 to a closed position.
With reference to FIG. 4, it may also be readily visualized that notch 50
in raised guide 48 of upper jaw 38 permits jaws 38,40 to be locked in an
open position. In other words, so long as tab 56 of floater 52 is hung up
on notch 50, spring 64 will not be able to move the jaws 38,40 into a
closed position.
The jaw configuration and degrees of movement described above provide a
structure suited for fastening to and securely gripping an electrical
transmission line. By moving the jaws 38,40 longitudinally toward the
U-shaped clevis 22, it should be understood that the jaws will move
transversely apart. It should also be understood that the jaws 38,40 move
in conjunction with each other by virtue of the interrelationship between
their raised guides 46,48 and the tabs 56,56' on floater 52. Therefore, to
move either the upper jaw 38 or the lower jaw 40 is to move the other jaw.
In the figures, upper jaw 38 is shown as having a laterally extending eye
68 having an aperture, which facilitates its movement, and notch 50 on
raised guide 48, which enables the jaws 38,40 to be locked open. It should
be understood that the lower jaw 40 could be provided with these features,
that is with the gripping structure afforded by laterally extending eye 68
and with the notch 50 on raised guide 48, in addition to, or instead of,
providing upper jaw 38 with them, or that one jaw could be provided with
the gripping structure, while the other could be provided with the notch
50 on raised guide 48.
In operation, the dead end 10 will be fastened to a utility pole or some
other suitable structure at the U-shaped clevis 22 by means known in the
art. An electrical transmission line will be positioned between upper and
lower jaws 38,40, when the jaws 38,40 are locked into an open position.
When the jaws 38,40 are released, they are moved by spring 64 away from
the U-shaped clevis 22 and into a closed position, whereby the electrical
transmission line is disposed between the arcuate faces 38",40" of jaws
38,40. The electrical transmission line will be gripped between the
arcuate faces 38",40" by the transverse ribs 44 thereon. Because the
electrical transmission line is in tension, the line will further pull the
jaws 38,40 longitudinally away from the U-shaped clevis 22, thereby moving
the jaws 38,40 transversely toward one another and more tightly upon the
line, which firmly secures the line in place. The degree of movement of
the jaws 38,40 is eventually restricted by the jaw guide walls 16,18,
which apply downward pressure upon the jaws 38,40, which, in turn, apply
downward pressure on the electrical transmission line. The line will be
firmly fastened in place within the wedge dead end, and its further
movement will be prevented.
The jaw material must be suitable to apply sufficient pressure onto the
line to develop the full strength of the jaws 38,40, and may be of a
non-conducting material as no current flow is involved. However, the jaws
38,40 may be fashioned of stainless steel.
While a particular embodiment of the present invention has been shown and
described, it is clear that various changes and modifications may be made,
and it is therefore intended in the following claims to cover all
modifications and changes as may fall within the true spirit and scope of
the invention.
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